1. How are the Chinese soldiers portrayed in these prints? The Japanese soldiers?
The Japanese are portrayed as more superior than the Chinese soldiers, as they are seen always defeating the Chinese, which shows their courage and strength. The Chinese, in some cases, are portrayed smaller, or under the Japanese, while being injured, in pain, or dead. The Japanese are also shown as being compassionate, for example, they are seen saving children's lives, even if they are of Chinese descent.
2. Look at the weapons used by each side, are they different? How? Does this tell us anything about Japanese technological advancement?
In some cases, Japan has superior weapons and in other cases, the Chinese has superior weapons. However, it is the Japanese that always win in these photos. When the Chinese have bad or no weapons, the Japanese win with their superior weapons, whether it be a gun or a knife. When the Chinese have superior weapons, the Japanese are shown victorious, which once again shows their courage.
3. Why do sports often become symbolic battlegrounds between nations?
4. Is imperialism/colonialism simply about militarily and politically controlling another nation, or is it also about proving one’s self-perceived cultural superiority over another?
1. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the heroics of war better?
The artistic renditions depict the heroics of war better because in a sense, drawings are more "fictional" than the photographs as the artists can depict the Japanese in a much brighter light. Whereas in photos, not much can be altered to give the Japanese a superior look, and the public are exposed to the absolute reality.
2. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the horrors of war better? (Consider all photographs of war that you have seen, both historical and contemporary)
Photographs depict the horrors much more than that of drawings and paintings simply because photographs are the reality. It can't be altered, like an artist's drawing.
3. How does the medium affect the message? Can we say that, "[T]he medium is the message"?
The medium can greatly affect the message. For example, the artistic renditions of a war spotlight nationalistic pride, and seems to mimic heroes from fictional stories. Photos on the other hand, are basically historical evidence to show the reality of war, putting the horror above anything else.
4. Why is 1905 such a turning point in Japanese and World history? How might history have been different had Japan lost the Russo-Japanese War?
Japan was finally seen as a rising, threatening power to all of the world and eventually rose as one of the world powers, becoming the most significant Asian country at the time. If Japan had lost the war, world recognition might not have been so big and their influence on the East and all over the world would be much smaller.
What do the Stimson Doctrine and the Lytton Report say about how the Western world view East Asia?
Both the Stimson Doctrine and the Lytton Report prove that the Western powers alienated the Asian nations, looking down upon them as if they were superiors. The Stimson Doctrine had the U.S treat Japan like trash, not giving much care for them as well. In the Lytton Report, they investigate on who is at fault, and eventually comes to the resolution that both were responsible for the crisis and leads to Japan leaving the League of Nations as they were now blamed as being aggressors. However, at this point, the LON did not take any measures to provide good resolutions to their crisis.
Should the League of Nations or the United States have taken sterner measures against Japan?
I believe that instead of leaving Japan and China to fight for an extended period of time with no action, the League of Nations should have taken action to help the crisis cool down. If they would have taken good measures, it would have not lead to the eventual World War II - atleast in the Pacific theatre.
1. How are the Chinese soldiers portrayed in these prints? The Japanese soldiers?
The Japanese are portrayed as more superior than the Chinese soldiers, as they are seen always defeating the Chinese, which shows their courage and strength. The Chinese, in some cases, are portrayed smaller, or under the Japanese, while being injured, in pain, or dead. The Japanese are also shown as being compassionate, for example, they are seen saving children's lives, even if they are of Chinese descent.
2. Look at the weapons used by each side, are they different? How? Does this tell us anything about Japanese technological advancement?
In some cases, Japan has superior weapons and in other cases, the Chinese has superior weapons. However, it is the Japanese that always win in these photos. When the Chinese have bad or no weapons, the Japanese win with their superior weapons, whether it be a gun or a knife. When the Chinese have superior weapons, the Japanese are shown victorious, which once again shows their courage.
3. Why do sports often become symbolic battlegrounds between nations?
4. Is imperialism/colonialism simply about militarily and politically controlling another nation, or is it also about proving one’s self-perceived cultural superiority over another?
1. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the heroics of war better?
The artistic renditions depict the heroics of war better because in a sense, drawings are more "fictional" than the photographs as the artists can depict the Japanese in a much brighter light. Whereas in photos, not much can be altered to give the Japanese a superior look, and the public are exposed to the absolute reality.
2. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the horrors of war better? (Consider all photographs of war that you have seen, both historical and contemporary)
Photographs depict the horrors much more than that of drawings and paintings simply because photographs are the reality. It can't be altered, like an artist's drawing.
3. How does the medium affect the message? Can we say that, "[T]he medium is the message"?
The medium can greatly affect the message. For example, the artistic renditions of a war spotlight nationalistic pride, and seems to mimic heroes from fictional stories. Photos on the other hand, are basically historical evidence to show the reality of war, putting the horror above anything else.
4. Why is 1905 such a turning point in Japanese and World history? How might history have been different had Japan lost the Russo-Japanese War?
Japan was finally seen as a rising, threatening power to all of the world and eventually rose as one of the world powers, becoming the most significant Asian country at the time. If Japan had lost the war, world recognition might not have been so big and their influence on the East and all over the world would be much smaller.
The Last 100 Years of the Chosun Dynasty on Dipity.
Both the Stimson Doctrine and the Lytton Report prove that the Western powers alienated the Asian nations, looking down upon them as if they were superiors. The Stimson Doctrine had the U.S treat Japan like trash, not giving much care for them as well. In the Lytton Report, they investigate on who is at fault, and eventually comes to the resolution that both were responsible for the crisis and leads to Japan leaving the League of Nations as they were now blamed as being aggressors. However, at this point, the LON did not take any measures to provide good resolutions to their crisis.
I believe that instead of leaving Japan and China to fight for an extended period of time with no action, the League of Nations should have taken action to help the crisis cool down. If they would have taken good measures, it would have not lead to the eventual World War II - atleast in the Pacific theatre.